The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1887-05-27
CHANGE OF STOCK FOOD.
The Natural Craving OF Domesticated
Animals for Diversified Diet.

Animals for Diversified Diet.
1t is generally believed by most
farmers that horses, cattle, shee p and
pigs would grow faster and keep in
better condition if they were provided
with greater variety of food, espe-
cially after the supply of green fodder
fails in the fall. Still the great ma
jority OF farmers are atno pains to pro-
vide substances that will secure a
change of diet Most horses are kept
on grass, oats and hay all their lives
The regular diet of pigs kept in the
West is corn. If other substances, as
milk, Stops, potatoes or pumpkins are
fed to them it is for the reason that no
other use can be found for them. They
are regarded as waste substances from
which pigs can derive some benefit.
They are accordingly put in their food
as convenient way of disposing of
them. Cows not kept on dairy farms
have little but green or dried grass to
eat from the time they are weaned till
they are killed or die of old age If
they have grain or corn fodder it is
because these substances have no mar
ket value and can be put to no other
use. They are allowed to eat them,
sometimes forced to do so for long
periods, so that considerable hay can
be sold from the place. Little or no
pains are taken in this country to in
sure change of food for sheep, and it
is chiefly on this account that they are
less profitable than in England, where
they are supplied with turnips, beans
and oil-cake, in addition to straw and
hay. The superiority of English NUT
ton is partly due to the breeds of sheep,
but chiefly to the way they are fed.
They are supplied with the kinds of
food that are best suited to the produce
ton of large amount of superior
meat in the shortest time possible.
The same care is taken to hasten their
growth that is taken in this country to
insure the rapid growth of cattle and
hogs.
Most animals, no less than human
beings, soon tire of the same kind of
food, although 1t is the best, all things
being taken into consideration. This
can be observed of all kinds of domes-
ticated animals and fowls. Sweet, ten
der green grass is very palatable, and
contains all the elements necessary to
produce bone, fat, flesh, hair, wool,
hoof, horn and milk. Still, the varying
appetite Graves something different at
times. Cows in summer will leave the
rich grass in the pastures to get bite
of old hay or mouthful of straw.
They will not unfrequently eat that
which is somewhat moldy. Horses
taken from stalls well supplied with
timothy hay and clean, bright oats will
steal a bite from the strawstacks they
pass and nip off the tops of weeds
growing along the path they travel.
They have food enough and of the best
quality, but they want a change of
diet, even if it is much poorer than
they have been accustomed to. They
desire condiments as we'll as true food,
and they find them in weeds, the TO-
liage of bushes and the bark of trees.
Sheep show their desire for variety
OF food by eating weeds, sorrel,
moss and bushes. Goats have been
accused of eating old fruit-cans, hoop
skirts, clothes-lines and water-pails,
but it is certain that they will devour
almost every thing of vegetable growth,
Pigs are omniverous, and will eat all
manner of vegetable and animal sub
stances, "for It's their nature to-"
Restricting pigs to diet of dry corn
has with little doubt had much to do
in increasing their liability to disease,
and in making their constitutions deli
cate. The wild hog that ranges the
forest eats grass like the OK, meat like
a tiger, fish like an otter and insects
like a bird, lives long and is free from
the diseases that carry off so many pigs
that are kept in confinement on one
kind of food.
Fowls of all kinds, like pigs, are ON
niverous, and observation shows that
they only do their best when their diet
is varied. When left to themselves
they will eat grass all sorts of green
vegetables, unripe and matured fruits,
fish, meat, bone, shells, charcoal, grain
and seeds of all kinds, worms, insects
and the smaller kinds of reptiles. They
are very fond of all that class of sub
stances that are classed as condiments.
and which include the peppers, spices
and the various aromatic herbs. Not
only the flesh, but the eggs of wild
birds are superior to those of domesti-
Gated fowls. They rank as delicacies,
and have gamey flavor. It is doubt
less the part of wisdom to provide an
imals and fowls with the substances
they desire to eat and not to limit their
supply of food to the articles that pos
sess the highest fesh-producing value
as determined in a chemical labora-
tory. Hogs and sheep, when restrict
ed for considerable time to one kind
of food, lose their appetite, fall off in
condition, become constipated, and
contract variety of diseases, some of
"iiANAi GU Z AhOly W PLONo 1dCdl' 1uey
do not need drugs, but change of
food that will stimulate their appetite
and improve their digestion. AMI
mails and fowls are as fond of condi-
ments as human beings are, and there
are good reasons for believing that
they are as beneficial to them. Their
natural craving for certain kinds of
food not generally afforded them,
should be gratified in order to promote
their comfort, for comfort is essential
to health and growth. Most feeders
have noticed that animals will not eat
with relish what they do not want,
though it may head the list of SUBJ
stances recommended for producing
fat, flesh, wool or milk The animal
is generally the best judge of what is
best for its health and Development
| CHICAGO Times